Liquid dispenser and method for dispensing liquids



Dec. 21, 1937. J W. THORSEN y 2,103,194

LIQUID DISPENSER AND METHOD FOR DISIPENSING LIQUIDS Filed 0G12. l0, 1955 INVENTOR j 71E/@Mace v/arsen,

Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID`DISPENSER AND METHOD FOR DIS- PENSING LIQUIDS This invention relates to a liquid dispenser or the like and av method for dispensing and/or shipping liquid.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a liquid dispenser construction or the like which will be simple, practical and thoroughly durable. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which may be manufactured with a minimum amount of labor and from inexpensive materials. Another object is to provide a construction of the above charac-1 ter which, while being practical in use, is also neat and attractive in appearance. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which will form a convenient container for liquid or the like and will at the same time make available for use small quantities of liquid as desired. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which will hold a small capsule of liquid and conveniently release a portion of the liquid from the capsule when desired by the user. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which may be made up practically in small sizes and shapes convenient for use. Another object is to provide a method of dispensing liquid which will be convenient and make for considerable economy in shipment and display. Another object is to provide a method of the above character which will make possible the carrying of small quantities of liquid or the like and the application of small quantities thereof without inconvenience. Other objects will bep in part obvious and inV part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is r shown one of the possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure l is a front elevation of my device as assembled for use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View in elevation of the parts shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an unassembled view of the parts shown in Figure l, and

Figure. 4 is a front elevationY of a package of capsules or the like. Y

Similar reference` charactersv refer. to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the draw- As conduciveV to a clearer 'understanding`v of certain features of this invention, it mig-ht here be pointed out that the shipment, storage and application of a liquid have been subject to many important diiculties. There are many-liquids, e. g., various medicines, perfumes, andfother chemicals, which it often becomes necessary to Vcarry when one is away from homev andit is desirable to apply many of these liquids to the person or perhaps the clothing in small quantities. For example,perfume and many drugs or. the like are generally soldto the consumer in fragile bottles made from glass or; the like which are subject to breakage and which are inconvenient to carry in pockets, purses, or Athe like. Furthermore, it is difficult and bothersome to apply these liquids or the like from these bottles or containers and, when so done, generally necessitates the use of both hands. The liquid dispensers now in use are of cumbersome size and. proportions and complicated inV structure, thus easily becoming damaged and aptV toa'llow large quantities of the liquid contained therein to evaporate. No effective means now exists for the storage ofv small quantities of liquid and the application of small quantities thereofiwithout accompanying bother and nuisance. One of the objects ofthis inventionvis to provide a construction and a method in which the above-mentioned diiculties as well as many others are successfully and practically overcome. f

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in Figure 2 a container lll preferably cylindrical in shape disposed within- -which are a plurality of capsules generally indicatedl at Il. Capsules Il are filled with any suitable liquid or the like and may be made from any suitable material preferably pliable in character. For

example, capsules Il might be lled with a perfumeor perhaps mercurochrome or some other drug. Thus capsules Il may be depressed'when pressure is exerted thereon without rupture and form a durable container for liquid not` easily damaged'in normal use. l Y

Preferably the'upper portion Illa of container l0 is ,reduced inouter diameter and a portion: lob

vthereof is also preferably increased in innerdiameter. Fitting within portion lb-of container I0 is astopper or cap l2. ThusstopperrlZ forms aclosure for container IO'to hold capsules Il until they are desired. I have found that a tight fit between-stopper I2 and portionI lilb Yof container ills .li'mient to` hold the stopper inthe Position shown in Figure 2, but, of course, any other means might be employed for this purpose, as, for example, threads. The top portion I2a of stopper I2 is preferably convex in shape thus forming a peak I2b substantially near the central portion thereof.

A cap member I4 is shaped to t snugly over portion Ia. of container I0 and is provided with an aperture I5 in its end portion immediately above peak I2b. The end portion Ida of cap member I4 preferably slopes upwardly and thus substantially corresponds in shape to end portion I 2a of stopper I2. Also I prefer to provide an annular ridge portion I4b on the inner surface of cap member I4 shaped to engage stopper I2 and rest thereon when the cap member is forced down on container I0. Accordingly, ridge I4b acts as a stop to limit the relative movement between cap member I4 and the container.

Formed in cap member I4, as more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, is a slot I 6 and a lug I'I extends from portion Illa of container I shaped to t within this slot. Thus a portion IS-a of slot I6 extends vertically with respect to the cap while another portion I6b thereof is curved upwardly about the diameter of the cap. Accordingly, when the cap member is tted over portion I 0a of container I0, portion IliaI of slot I6 is rst brought into registry with lug I'I. Upon further downward movement, the cap is rotated slightly and will thus be held against displacement from the container thereby. Upon further rotation of the cap, lug I'I rides along portion IGZ) of slot I6 and thus forces cap member I4 further down upon portion Ia of container I0.

In use, cap I4 is removed from the container and a capsule II is dropped therein so that it rests on end portion I4a covering aperture I5. Next the container is slipped into position, lug I'I nally sliding through portion I6a of slot I6 and the container is rotated slightly to lock the cap in position. During this action, capsule II tends to locate itself substantially in the center of the upper portion of the cap, as shown in Figure 2, due to the concave shape of end portion I 4a and also due to the convex shape of portion I2a of stopper I2. Furthermore, peak I2b serves to hold capsule I I in this position, the walls of the capsule being depressed due to the pliable nature thereof. The portion of capsule II exposed by aperture I5 is now ruptured in any convenient manner, as, for example, with a pin or the like and my device is ready for use.

When the user desires to apply a small quantity of liquid, cap I4 is rotated so that lug I7 rides along portion IIb of slot I6. As pointed out above, this forces cap I4 further down upon container I0 and consequently exerts pressure on capsule II. Thus a portion of the liquid in the capsule leaks out through the rupture and down upon the top vof cap I4 where it is conveniently accessible for use. After the user has applied a sufcient amount of liquid, the release of cap I4 allows it to rest on capsule II without exerting undue pressure thereon and, due to the character of the material from which the capsule is formed, the rupture is in effect sealed so that no appreciable amount of liquid can leak or evaporate therefrom. Thus the device may be placed in a bag or the like without damaging leakage on other articles with which it may come in contact and also the liquid is protected against harmful evaporation.

After a capsule has been exhausted of its contents, it is an easy matter to remove the cap from the container and remove stopper I2 to procure another capsule. The new capsule may be loaded in the cap in a manner substantially similar to that described above. Container I0 is preferably large enough to hold an adequate supply of capsules, but, of course, may be made in any size best suited to the user. Also, capsules II may be made of such inexpensive material that they may be discarded after exhausted without undue expense. Not only may this device be effectively operated with one hand but also its use results in a considerable saving in liquid for the amount used may be easily controlled by regulating the rotation of cap I4 and also due to the fact that leakage and evaporation are reduced to a minimum. Further still, the simplicity of this construction and the small number of parts make it extremely inexpensive to manufacture. It is of course to be understood that the various parts may be made in a number of different ways and from various materials, all according to the'particular use for which it is adapted.

Capsules II form a very practical Away for shipping and displaying various liquids, an example of which is perfume. As pointed out above, these capsules are formed from a pliable sturdy material, thus being free from accidental breakage during shipment and display, and, in fact, until they are placed for use in my dispenser. Also, after the capsules have been lled with perfume or some other liquid and sealed, they protect the liquid against any evaporation whatsoever before they are ruptured for use in my dispenser. Thus the capsules may be kept for a long period of time in stores and other places without any damage or loss from evaporation.

These capsules may be made up 'in attractive colors and sold in groups in suitable packages such as package I8 (Figure 4) I have found it desirable to make such packages from cellophane or some other transparent material suitably marked as at I9 to indicate the kind and brand of liquid the capsules contain and so that the group of capsules may be readily apparent to the casual observer and yet easily accessible tothe consumer.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and eifcient device and method for dispensing liquid or the like in which the several objects hereinabove mentioned as well as many others are successfully accomplished.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be Varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all mattei' hereinbefore set forth 0r shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Y

I claim: Y

l. In a construction of the general nature 0I that herein described, in combination, a supporting member, and a cylindrical part fitting over said member and having an aperture formed in the end thereof, said supporting member and` the end of said cylindrical part adapted to hold a capsule of liquid so that a portion thereof covers said aperture whereby when said capsule is ruptured pressure applied thereto by said cylindrical part forces some of the liquid in said capsule therefrom.

2. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a substantially cylindrical supporting member, a cylindrical part fitting over said member and having an aperture formed in the end thereof, said supporting member and the end of said cylindrical part adapted to hold a capsule of liquid so that a portion thereof covers said aperture, and means adapted to force said cylindrical part down on said cylindrical member to exert pressure on said capsule upon the turning of said cylindrical part with respect to said cylindrical member.

3. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a substantially cylindrical supporting member, the top of said member being substantially convex in shape, a lug extending from said cylindrical member, and a cylindrical part fitting over said cylindrical member, said part having an aperture formed in its end substantially opposite said convex portion, said convex portion and said end adapted to hold a capsule to cover said aperture, said cylindrical part having a slot formed therein into which said lug may extend, said slot being shaped to coact with said lug and force said part further down upon said member upon the rotation of said part.

4. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a supporting member and a part fitting over said member and having an aperture formed in the end thereof, said part and said member being shaped to hold containing means for a liquid disposed between said member and the end of said part whereby pressure on said part forces some of the liquid from said containing means.

5. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a closed cylindrical member having one substantially con- Vex end, a cap member fitting over said end and having an aperture immediately abovek said end, containing means for a liquid, said convex end -being shaped to support said containing means within said cap member, and means adapted to force said cap member down on said containing means upon the rotation of said cap member with respect to said cylindrical member so that a portion of said containing means is forced to protrude through said aperture.

6. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a cylindrical member having a closed end, a lug extending from said cylindrical member, and a cap member fitting over said cylindrical member and having an aperture formed in its end immediately above said end of said cylindrical member,

said cap member having a slot formed therein adapted to coact with said lug upon rotation of said cap member with respect to said cylindrical member to force said cap member toward said end of said cylindrical member whereby a capsule containing liquid disposed between said cylindrical member and said cap member may be compressed.

7. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a cylindrical member having a closed end, and a cap member fitting over the closed end of said cylindrical member and having an end portion concave in shapeto said closed end, the central portion of said end portion being open, said closed end of said cylindrical member and said end portion of said cap member adapted to hold a. capsule of liquid whereby pressure applied to said cap member is transferred to said capsule to compressd said capsule.

8. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a cylindrical member having a substantially convex end portion, and a cap member tting over said cylindrical member and having a top portion in registry with said convex end portion substantially concave in shape with respect to said end, substantially the central portion of said top portion being open, and said end portion Vand said top portion adapted to hold a capsule formed from pliable material and containing a liquid whereby upon rupture of said capsule pressure by said cap member thereon forces a quantity. of the liquid from said capsule to ow out on the top of said cap member.

9. Ina construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a closed cylindrical container, a cap member iitting over said cylindrical container and having an opening in its end, said container and said member being shaped to receive containing meansforv a liquid disposed between said cap member and said container, and means adapted to force said cap member down upon said last-mentioned means causing a portion of the containing means to extend through the opening of said cylindrical container.

10. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a closed cylindrical part, a member having an aperturel formed in its end interttingwith said part, and means interposed between said part and said member and adapted to guide said memberl toward said part to hold a capsule of liquid in registry with said aperture and exert pressure thereon so that a small portion of said capsule protrudes through said aperture.

11. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a cylin der, means containing a liquid disposed on one end of said cylinder, a cap member having an opening therein and intertting with said cylinder and said means and means for forcing said cap member down on said cylinder and said first mentioned means to force a portion of said capsule through said opening.

12. In a construction of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a supporting member, a liquid container resting on one end of said supporting member, and means tting over a portion of said container and said supporting member and adapted to exert pressure against said container, said container being formed from material which may be ruptured and which has the characteristic of automatically sealing such a rupture when no pressure is exerted against said container. 

